It'll be similar to the iPhone, friday the following week.
iPads have always been available in ample quantities around where I live. Possible exception being the first gen which I didn't look into.
Never preordered, just walked into best buy or apple to purchase.
Assuming Apple is putting 2GB of RAM in the new iPad, I'm pretty sure that they will run out of iPad very quickly. People will rush like crazy just to get one and you might have to camp out a few days before launch just to have a chance to grab one. As far as I'm concerned, I will order the maxed out model the minute it's available online for pre-order. And still, I might not be able to pre-order! You'll see...
Why bother buying it on launch day when launch day is so close to black friday? Just buy from Apple 14 days before black Friday, then you can still get the price adjustment/refund on black friday.
November 14th looks like buy day for me, if I choose to upgrade.
Will Apple discount the new iPads just 1 month after release?
Yes. I bought my iPad 4 this way. Bought it two weeks before black friday at the apple store (just walked in and bought it), then on black friday around noon when i got out of bed i waltzed back to the apple store and just asked if i could get the black friday discount refunded since i was still within my return window, i was in and out in five minutes.